End Of The Ages
God is the King of "the ages" and He made the ages through Christ Jesus His Son...
“Now to the King of the ages, the incorruptible,
invisible, only, and wise God...in these last days did speak to us in a Son,
whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He did make the ages” (1 Timothy 1:17; Hebrews
1:1-2)
And AGE is a long period
of time with a beginning and an end. In Hebrew the word is “olam” and refers to
a period of time so long that one cannot see beyond it. The phrase "olam
va'ed” is usually translated in English Bibles as “forever and ever” but
that is NOT what was meant. It means “as far as one can see and beyond”. The
Greek word for Age is “aion” and clearly refers to a definite period of time
with a beginning and an end even though it is translated “forever” into English
sometimes in our Bible...in error. It seems to me that 5 ages are reflected in the Bible with
a beginning and an end of which two of them are past...
Age 1 - the original age
when all things were created and ended in the earth becoming without form and
void. (Genesis 1:1)
Age 2 - the regeneration
of the earth after it became without form and void and ended with the flood of
Noah. (Genesis 1:2).
Age 3 – This is present
age which began after the FLOOD and Paul calls “the present wicked age”...it will
end with the return of Jesus to establish the Messianic Kingdom on the earth.
“Who gives Himself for
our sins, so that He might extricate us out of the present wicked age,
according to the will of our God and Father” (Galatians 1:4)
There are two ages which
are future in which the riches of His grace and kindness (saving of sinners)
will be displayed...
“...in the
ONCOMING AGES, He should be displaying the transcendent riches of His GRACE in
His KINDNESS to us in Christ Jesus.” (Ephesians 2:7)
Age 4 - The 1000 year
Kingdom Age promised to Israel (Acts 1:6; Revelation 20:6)
Age 5 - The final Age of
a New Heaven and New Earth at the end of which God will be "All in All". (Revelation 21:1; 1 Corinthians 15:28)
“…THEN COMES THE END, when He hands over the
kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority
and power. For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet.
The last enemy that will be abolished is death....then the Son Himself also
will be subjected to the One who subjected all things to Him, so that God may
be ALL IN ALL.” (1 Corinthians 15:20-28)